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Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) through its GoogleX division is making hot air balloons and drones are trying to get internet to remote parts of the world. Amidst all these efforts why are they trying to buy into the satellite technology. Lee thinks that the GoogleX projects might expand Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) globally, but he feels that if the investment in SpaceX works, it might leapfrog cable companies in one stretch.

"It's important for us to move quickly so we can bring DSL to market to leapfrog cable and to do so at a reasonable cost," said SBC spokesman Wes Warnock.

Comparisons of FTTH and (.pdf) usually aren't very thorough. So I got some industry intel to help me better understand the differences. Here's a first shot at providing a better comparison.

The conclusion could be that FTTH is superior, but upgraded HFC networks will go a long way. Telco incumbents have a choice: sweat the copper plant (some running into a huge problem because VDSL doesn't handle analogue TV very well); or leapfrog cable and swallow the capex pill.

Shared bandwidthFiber guys usually point to the fact that cable is a shared medium. Well, alas, all networks are shared. The real question is: bandwidth is shared among subscribers? Verizon (NYSE:) recently for its FiOS network. And that's 'just' a PON network! In other words, fiber beats cable, but it is shared as well.

Symmetrical speedsFiber guys also tout the fact that FTTH enables symmetrical connections, and the cable guy usually retorts that DOCSIS can do that too. I'm not sure how it is in other countries, but in the Netherlands the fiber guy is 'more right' than the cable guy. Coaxial networks offer a full spectrum of some 862 MHz, which would deliver several Gb/s if it was all used for broadband (DOCSIS). Alas, most is reserved for cable TV (see below: cable TV v. IPTV). Moreover, only the bottom 60 MHz is reserved for , and so upload speeds are constricted.

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